If you go to this link https://tinyurl.com/4f6wunkj you’ll read that rooms in two of York’s ancient gateways are up for rent. The city walls and bars belong officially to the City of York Council, which leases both gates to the York Archaeological Trust.
14th-century Monk Bar is the larger and has an annual rent of £6,000. It was until recently the home of The Richard III Experience museum. Micklegate Bar is older, 12th century, but the two top storeys are 14th century. It housed The Henry VII Experience. Now both are vacant. I should add that the above link, https://tinyurl.com/4f6wunkj, contains some excellent photographs of the rooms. But there is one big drawback to such a rental…neither bar has a water supply. Oh, dear. No loos!
I don’t know what on earth I’d do with such a prospect, but if you’re of a mind to have one, and have a spare £6,000 or so lying around….
Perhaps I do have an idea, although it’s completely impossible. You see, associating either bar with Henry VII conjures a wickedly childish thought in my loyally Ricardian mind. I can imagine myself as an invisible time-traveller, hovering around the upper storeys of whichever bar dear Henry VII happens to ride beneath during his “victory” progress.
The smirk would be wiped from his weasel face because I have a bucket of something disgusting with me, which I toss down all over his stolen royal finery. Oh joy. It’s a scenario that sends me into a contented sleep far more efficiently than counting sheep!
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